Jeremiah Gress

Jeremiah Gress

Hometown:Cedar Park, Texas

Undergraduate University:The University of Texas at Austin

Matched Medical School:UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine

Between the summer programs, community within your cohort and the structure of the
application process, JAMP provides its members with abundant exposure to the reality
of medical school. The culmination of these experiences offers hopeful medical students
the insight they require to feel sure of themselves moving forwards towards medical
school. This is what JAMP did for me.

How has JAMP helped you strive to achieve your goal of becoming a doctor? After joining my JAMP cohort, I felt much more sure of my path towards medical school.
Not only had I made the commitment to attend medical school, but this program committed
themselves towards getting me there. This group of people showed me that they had
confidence in my ability to succeed in medical school. As I have continued to pray
and contemplate the profession I have been called to, the experiences JAMP has provided
me have helped to bring forth the external affirmation needed to reinforce my internal
desire to become a physician. Not only have I now found admission into an incredible
medical school, but the summer program experience I received lent me conducive insight
into my future as a physician.

What advice would you like to offer current or future JAMP students? For future JAMP students, I would really invite you to consider your motivation for
seeking out this path. If you feel that you truly have a deep conviction to commit
your life to serving others through improving their health, then this program is invaluable
to you. If you commit yourself to serving others through such an arduous medium, then
you will find your way there and great programs, such as JAMP, will help you along
the way.

For current students, I have the same advice; but would modify it slightly. I would
encourage you to consider your motivation for this pursuit- search it out, refine
it, and cling to it. The program will offer you an unbelievable amount of support,
but you should make sure you are preparing yourself to be the best you can be throughout
it all; this comes whenever you have a true purpose behind your pursuit of medicine.

What aspect of JAMP has been most beneficial to you? Obviously, guaranteed admission is a huge benefit of being a "JAMPer"; yet, I think
it is part of something bigger for its recipients. The biggest benefit of this program
lies in the assurance that it provides for those seeking to become a physician. Between
the summer programs, community within your cohort and the structure of the application
process, JAMP provides its members with abundant exposure to the reality of medical
school. The culmination of these experiences offers hopeful medical students the insight
they require to feel sure of themselves moving forwards towards medical school. This
is what JAMP did for me. Now I feel a peace about spending the next four years learning
the craft of medicine, so that I might serve my God and my fellow man as a physician.

About Jeremiah: For years I have wanted to end up in the field of medicine, but never knew exactly
why. I think when I was younger, I just found medicine interesting from a career standpoint.
Becoming a doctor seemed like such a worthy dream.

As I got older though, my interest in medicine grew as I not only fell in love with
science, but also with people. After my faith took somewhat of a growth-spurt towards
the end of my high school years, my heart became set on serving people for the rest
of my life. Fortunately, I became very apt in the sciences and continued to enjoy
and succeed in my pre-medical course; so, it seemed that all roads continued to lead
to medical school.

With the help of JAMP and the Lord himself, I was able to cruise into the interview
process with a deep assurance that I was on the right path. That path has now led
me towards the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio for the next
4 years. Lord willing, I will train there to bring me another step closer to becoming
an orthopedic trauma surgeon; so that I may spend every day of the rest of my life
helping to deliver my fellow man in times of traumatic distress.